Just Watched

Why is Uganda attacking homosexuality?

Just Watched

Uganda gay rights

Homosexuality is illegal in Uganda, as it is in many African countries, and legislation is pending in parliament that could bring even harsher penalties for gays.

At one point the bill included life imprisonment and even the death penalty. That provision was dropped, under intense pressure from donor countries, but several Ugandan politicians still plan to push it through parliament.

"We are resolutely opposed to the bill," said U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland on Tuesday. "We think it's inconsistent with Uganda's international human rights obligations, and this just sets a bad, bad precedent in the neighborhood."

The announcement of the ban comes in the wake of a police raid Monday that disrupted a gay rights activists' workshop in the Ugandan capital, Kampala.

Amnesty International and participating groups called the raid "illegal."

The police detained the participants for several hours, Amnesty said, cordoning off the hotel and questioning more than a dozen people. All were later released without charge.

"This continued harassment and intimidation of human rights activists must stop and the police need to start adhering to the laws they are supposed to protect and enforce," said Michelle Kagari, Amnesty's deputy director for Africa.